
















THE 

MOUNT CARBON 


COAL PROPERTY. 



WASHINGTON. 

1S40. 













\ 



/* 





THE MOUNT CARBON PROPERTY. 


The Mount Carbon coal mines were chartered by the Le- 
gislature of Illinois, 24th of January, 1835, for thirty years, 
under the title of the Mount Carbon Coal Company,” to 
be free from taxes until the dividends of the company shall 
exceed 12^ per cent, on their capital of f200,000. A copy of 
the charter is herewith submitted. Any amendments that 
may be desired in the charter privileges, I am assured, can 
readily be obtained from the Legislature. 

The above mines are on the margin of Big Muddy river, 
near Brownsville, Jackson county, Illinois, about 25 or 30 
miles by water, 12 or 14 miles by land, from the Mississippi, 
and 60 or 70 miles above the mouth of the Ohio. The Cen¬ 
tral railroad^ recently chartered, (and the company organized 
and preparing for the work,) to commence at the mouth of the 
Ohio, will pass through, or very near to the above mines; 
thereby affording a choice of conveyance for the coal and other 
productions, which must add very much to the population, 
trade, and value of property, in that section of country. Big 
Muddy river is navigable about 6 months in the year. The 
water of the Mississippi, during the spring and summer rise, 
is backed up to the coal mines to the depth of six to twelve, 
and sometimes fifteen feet. 

The upper stratum or seam of coal is from six to seven feet 
thick, the bottom of the stratum being about two feet above 
high-water mark. It mines easily, in large blocks, and does 
not crumble, or form much slack, or dust, even when exposed 
to the weather. Each hand can raise and bring out on the 
wharf about one hundred bushels per day. The customary 
wages of laborers is from $10 to $15 per month; the whole 



cost, therefore, of loading it into boats or barges, at the mines, 
would not exceed one or two cents per bushel. 

The quantity of coal is believed to be inexhaustible for 
centuries to come. Its quality is very superior, and differs 
materially from any other vein of coal discovered in the Uni¬ 
ted States, and perhaps in England. It unites the qualities of 
the anthracite with pure charcoal; ignites very readily; 
burns with a strong heat and much flame, producing little 
smoke, cinder, or ashes. It makes an open fire, and does not 
melt or run on the grate bars, or produce soot, like bituminous 
coal generally. It is remarkably free from sulphur, slate, and 
other impurities, and is, therefore, particularly adapted to the 
use of steamboats, mills, cotton presses, sugar refiners, sugar 
estates, and all steam operations, and for all kinds of work in 
iron, steel, brass, and copper, (as will appear by reference to 
a specimen of the article, and the certificates of many practical 
men of respectability, which are herewith submitted.) 

It is believed by captains experienced in the steamboat 
trade, (with whom I have conversed,) that if a supply of this 
coal could be obtained, at convenient distances on the Missis¬ 
sippi river, that the trip from New Orleans to St. Louis could 
be made in probably two days less time than is now required 
with the ordinary wood. Any gain of time, however small, 
would, at once, secure its general use. There would also be 
an important gain in the quantity of freight that could be car¬ 
ried, arising from the difference between the weight of a cord 
of wood, and ten or twelve bushels of coal, which would be 
fully equal in effect. 

The outward-bound shipping from the port of New Orleans 
would consume a large quantity of coal; and vessels in the 
Havana and South American trade would, no doubt, use it 
as ballast, or take full cargoes of it. 

The removal of the rafts in the Atchafalaya, (a continuation 
of Red river,) which is now in progress, will add very largely 
to the consumption of coal, for the supply of sugar plantations 
on the rich prairie lands contiguous to that river and the 
Teche. 

By reference to the letter and estimate of Captain Henry 


b 


M. Sbreve, (who commands the snag-boats in removing the 
rafts from Red river,) it will be seen that coal from the Mount 
Carbon mines can be delivered at New Orleans for ten cents 
or less per bushel; and that the immediate demand for it will 
be almost unlimited, and must continue to increase rapidly 
in price until an adequate supply is thrown into market. For 
several years past, coal has sold in New Orleans, during the 
winter season, Slh. to 62i cents per bushel. My calcula¬ 
tions are all made at the minimum price of 25 cents per 
bushel; but with a coal yard, and a supply on hand, the 
above high rates would be frequently obtained, and the min¬ 
imum price of 25 cents per bushel would be freely obtained at 
nil points on the Mississippi, from the mouth of Big Muddy 
river down to New Orleans. 

The supply at New Orleans at present is derived chiefly 
from Pittsburg and Wheeling. The Mount Carbon mines 
are only about half the distance from New Orleans, and the 
the quality of the coal is decidedly better for generating steam, 
and for most other purposes. 

Connected with the coal mines there are about 1,222.68 acres 
of land, of rich quality and very heavily timbered, a steam saw 
and grist mill, with two run of stones and one saw, recently 
erected. The mill is 28 by 60 feet, three stories high, substan¬ 
tially framed and built. There is, also, one large double cabin, 
well finished, for the manager, and several smaller ones, of 
the ordinary kind, for workmen, with blacksmith shop, stable, 
coal wharf, &c. There are also very favorable appearances of 
salt water on the land, near the Saline, a good supply of which, 
I have little doubt, might be obtained by boring for it. The 
salt made at the Slate Saline readily commands fifty to seven¬ 
ty-five cents per bushel of fifty pounds, for the supply of the 
adjacent country. 

There is a public road near the mill and coal mines, with 
an eligible site for a town, which must necessarily grow up 
tthcre. As the waters of Big Muddy river and its branches, 
ubove the steam mill, mines, and town site, afford navigation 
for batteaux, and sometimes for large flat boats, which would 
embrace and draw to ‘‘Mount Carbon” the trade of several 


6 


counties well adapted to the production of tobacco, wheat, corn, 
rye, cattle, hogs, deer skins, furs, beeswax, &c., &c., in exchange 
for which a considerable amount of goods could be sold at very 
large profits, this trade might be expected to increase regu¬ 
larly, with the increasing population which would be drawn to 
the town by the operation of the mines and steam mill, and the 
additional facilities for trade that will be given to it by the rail¬ 
road from the mouth of the Ohio, connecting with the Illinois 
river at the head of steamboat navigation, and the canal from 
thence to Lake Michigan, at Chicago. The lots in the con¬ 
templated town of Mount Carbon” would probably, in a short 
time, more than repay the whole purchase of the mines, mill, 
and property, above described. 

As I am unable to make arrangements to remove to Illinois, 
I am compelled to sell this valuable property, which I now of¬ 
fer for one hundred thousand dollars, with all the advantages 
and privileges of the charter obtained from the State of Illinois 
for carrying on mining operations and transporting coal to mar¬ 
ket, &c., and will receive in payment one-fifth of the amount 
in stock of the company, and the residue in cash. The title to 
the property is unquestionable. For further particulars refer¬ 
ence may be made to N. Berthand, Esq., No. 106, Broad street, 
or to the subscriber, (now at Bunker’s.) 

HALL NEILSON. 

New York, April 11 , 1836. 

P. S. If the consumption of coal should increase as rapidly 
as may be expected, and the company should consider a rail¬ 
road desirable direct to the Mississippi, in aidoi the navigation 
of Big Muddy river and the railroad to the mouth of the Ohio, 
I think there can be no doubt that one could be made at mod¬ 
erate cost, the distance not exceeding fourteen miles. Timber 
very abundant all the way, (and for thirty miles above the 
mines, on Big Muddy and its branches,) the timber and the 
land necessary for the road would probably be given without 
charge; besides, a liberal charter could readily be obtained 
from the Legislature of the State, either as a branch of the 
Central railroad, or otherwise. This road might be expected 


7 


to have a good deal of business, independent of the mines, iu 
transporting the produce of the interior country from Mount 
Carbon” to the Mississippi, and the requisite supply of goods 
for that place in return. A large supply of timber might also 
be transported, for which there is a ready market on the Mis¬ 
sissippi. A town would of course grow up at the junction of 
such a road with the Mississippi, which might prove a desira¬ 
ble location for building steamboats, barges, and other vessels, 
timber being very good and abundant^ and it is now becom¬ 
ing scarce and high at many of the places on the Ohio, &c., 
where such work is now done most extensively. 

H. N. 

P. S. additional. I will add eighty acres of land on Big 
Muddy river, about a half mile below Brownsville, and one 
and a half mile below the State Saline, to the 715 acres offered 
to the company as above, making in all 795 acres. On this tract 
there are very good indications of salt water, which induced 
the erection of furnace and some other improvements, and a 
boring was made to the depth of 340 feet; in this boring veins 
of salt water were frequently struck, from within 20 or 30 
feet of the surface, downwards, and generally increasing in 
strength as the boring was extended. At 327 feet, a vein was 
struck much stronger than the previous ones, but not large 
enough to sustain the work. I have no doubt, if the boring 
was continued to 500 feet, that an abundant supply of 
salt ivater would be procured; (this is the opinion of many 
persons in that country experienced in such matters.) The 
salt water in that region is remarkably clear and pure, requi¬ 
ring no other process than boiling to produce beautiful white 
salt. 

At Charleston, on the Kenawha, they generally bore from 
five to six hundred feet for salt water. The work is not ex¬ 
pensive. 

This tract, being unconnected with the main body of the 
land, was omitted in my general proposition, as above. I 
think there is a fair probability of its being immensely valua¬ 
ble, and this addition gives to the company a good chance for 
salt water, above and below, in range with the State Saline. 


8 


The work done on this tract has cost me a large sum; part of 
the work would be available in future operations. 

HALL NEILSON. 

New York, April 11, 1836. 


An estimate of the probable cost of 100 flat boats of middle size, {say 10 by IS^ 
feet,) to carry 3,000 bushels of coal each, loaded xvith coal from the Mount 
Carbouj for New Orleans, and sold there at 25 cents per bushel, sending two 
boats together under one pilot, as usual, and leaving the value of the boats at 


New Orleans, against contingent expenses, viz : 

2 boats, 70 by 18 feet, at $\ 25 per foot length, is - - $175 OO* 

(With arrangements, boats can be built for $1 per foot, or less.) 

6,000 bushels of coal, at 2 cents per bushel on board - - 120 OO 

I pilot for the trip $50, 5 bow hands at $25 each, for the trip - 175 OO 

Provisions for the trip $40, insurance $20 - - - 60 00 

Cables, &c. (these are always brought back by the men) - 10 OO 

Commission on sales at New Orleans $1,500, at 5 per cent. 75 00 


$615 00 

Cn. ..= 

By sales of 6,000 bushels of coal at New Orleans, at 25 cents per 

bushel . - ^ _ $1,500 OO 

Nett profit on two boats ------ 885 OO 

Therefore, the profit on 100 boats w'ould be - - - $44,250 OO 

The profit would be much greater on a larger class of boat.*', (say 80 by 20 

feet,) which would carry about 4,000 bushels of coal each, and would require no 
more men to navigate them. 

The above price ol 25 cents per bushel would be obtained readily at all planes 
on the Mississippi, from the mouth of Big Muddy river down to Memphis,Vicks¬ 
burg, Natchez, &c. And at New Orleans, in the winter, the price of coal rs 
often 50 to 62| cents per bushel. Wood, in that market, ranges from 4J^ to $8' 
per cord, and averages from $5 50 to $6 throughout the year. Ten or twelve 
bushels of Mount Carbon coal is fully equal to a cord of their best wood. 

One head boat-builder and ten ordinary hands can build two boats per v/eefc, 
ready for loading; and ten men in the mines would furnish their cargoes. This, 
I think, would be a good scale of work to commence on. $10,000 would, I think, 
be a sufficient cash capital to commence the business with at the mines and mill^ 
and $2,500 at New Orleans. H. NEILSON. 


The gentlemen to whom Mr. Neilsojt made overtures for the sale of a moiety 
of the above property, despatched Mr. A. B. Waller, of Washington, a gentle¬ 
man in whom they could place entire confidence, to examine the property, and 
report to them the result of his observations, in regard to its nature, situation, ex¬ 
tent, and probable value. The following is Mr. Waller’s report: 

Washington City, 

January 21 , 1839, 

Dear Sir : According to yonr request, I proceeded to the 
State of Illinois, to examine the property of the Mount Carbon 
Coal Company, and hereby make the following report: 










9 


The property of the company is situated in Jackson county, 
in the southwestern part of Illinois, about four miles from 
Brownsville, the seat of justice of the county, on the margin 
of the Big Muddy river, and twenty-five miles above its junc¬ 
tion with the']Mississippi. This stream is navigable for boats 
drawing from 3^ to 4 feet water, during about seven months 
in the year. The coal mine is situated in a bluif, some 40 
or 50 feet high, immediately on the bank of the river, fronting 
something over half a mile on the stream, and running back 
about the same distance; the stratum of coal which has been 
worked lies about 15 feet above the bed of the river ; three 
openings have been made in the side of the hill, within a few 
feet of each other ; the central one, which has been most 
worked, has the mouth closed by the sliding of the hill above. 
I entered the other openings, neither of which extend into the 
hill more than fifty feet, and examined the coal; the quality 
I think superior to any bituminous coal I have ever seen, ex¬ 
cept, perhaps, the Cumberland. The stratum runs into the 
hill in a horizontal direction, and, I have no doubt, runs en¬ 
tirely through it; an excavation has been made in the back of 
the hill, a short distance lower down the stream, on the same 
property, and coal of the same quality has been found. I am 
of the opinion that another stratum, of at least equal thickness, 
will be found below the one heretofore worked, as, about a 
quarter of a mile higher up the river, an opening has been 
made nearly on a level with the bed of the stream, and about 
fifteen feet below the level of the stratum already named, and 
sev'eral boat loads have been taken therefrom of the same kind 
of coal; the stratum is represented as being about six feet 
thick. The stratum that I examined is from 6 to 7 feet in 
thickness, in both the openings, with a stratum of slate above 
and below. 

The facilities of mining this coal and getting it to market 
are such as to render it very valuable ; nature has provided a 
channel for conveying it to market; and you will at once see 
that the labor of mining and loading into boats is very small, 
when I inform you that it will be only necessary to build some 
log wharves, opposite to the mouth of each opening, for your 


10 


boats to load at; and the distance from the mouth of the mine 
to the boat will not exceed thirty feet; and that as many 
openings can be made as may be necessary. It is estimated 
that each hand will mine and load into the boat 100 bushels 
per day, with a wheel-barrow; of course, each hand would 
greatly exceed that quantity with the proper fixtures for car¬ 
rying out the coal from the mine. This property is situated 
in the midst of the best timbered region of Illinois, or perhaps 
of the West; the tract of land owned by the company contains, 
as you are aware, upwards of 1,200 acres ; of this, about 1,100 
acres are well timbered with white oak and yellow poplar of 
the very best quality. I estimate that every acre of timber 
will yield at least 10,000 feet of sawed lumber, which will sell 
readily at the mill for -^15 per 1,000 feet; and the expense of 
cutting, hauling, and sawing it cannot exceed ^5 per 1,000; 
thereby yielding for the timber alone ^§100 per acre. The coun¬ 
try, for 40 or 50 miles up the prairies, will be dependent on 
this place for a supply of lumber; in addition to this, the great 
Central railroad through the State will pass within about 5 
miles of the Mount Carbon property, and will depend, in a 
great measure, upon the country immediately around for the 
timber necessary in its construction. The famous Missouri 
Iron Mountain is situated about 60 miles west of this proper¬ 
ty ; and it would seem that the most natural course to be taken 
to get it to market will be to construct a railroad from the 
mine to the Mississippi, which would strike the river immedi¬ 
ately opposite to the mouth of the Big Muddy, and conveni¬ 
ent to the Mount Carbon coal. No coal has been discovered 
on the Missouri side lower down than St. Louis, and the coal 
in that neighborhood is of a very inferior quality. I do not 
feel competent to give an opinion with regard to the prospect 
of obtaining a supply of salt water of sufficient consequence to 
justify the erection of salt works ; but it is the general opinion 
of the inhabitants that an abundant supply of water can be 
obtained by boring five or six hundred feet. The manufacture 
of salt is now carried on in a small way at the State Saline, 
about one mile from Brownsville, and pays a fair profit on the 
expenditures. 


11 


There is a steam mill attached to this property, situated on 
the opposite side of the river to the coal mine, and distant from 
it three or four hundred yards; this was built for grinding and 
sawing; and had it been properly constructed, and well man¬ 
aged, would doubtless have been a profitable concern ; the 
building is an excellent one, but the machinery is of very little 
value, and if any business should be attempted with it, will 
have to be entirely renewed. There is a very good site for a 
town at the mill, and a village would soon grow up there, if 
the coal and lumber business should be carried on extensively; 
and I have no doubt but that, in a few years, the town lots 
would sell for enough to pay for the property; even now, a 
large number of the inhabitants of the county are desirous of 
removing the seat of Government of the county to this place. 
The whole of the land is of an excellent quality, although some 
of it is a little broken and hilly. I annex a calculation with 
regard to the coal, made by two gentlemen of Brownsville, 
previous to my arrival there, and merely for their own satis¬ 
faction. I also annex an estimate of my own, differing from 
theirs simply in the size of the boats. I would merely say, in 
conclusion, that there is now a considerable population in the 
neighborhood, and that the country is filling up and improving. 

Yours, respectfully, 

A. B. WALLER. 

William A. Bradley, Esq. ’ 


I estimate 2 boats, 20 feet wide and 80 feet long, to carry 4,000 bush¬ 


els each, to cost ------- $200 00 

Cables - - - - - - - - 10 00 

8,000 bushels coal, at 2 cents, on board - - - - 160 00 

6 hands and pilot, for a trip _____ 200 00 

Provisions for 2 boats - - - - - - 50 00 

Insurance, say - - - - - - - 40 00 


Contra. 


$660 00 


By sales of 8,000 bushels coal in New Orleans, at 25 cents - $2,000 00 


$1,340 00 


Say 100 boat loads, at a profit of $670 each - - $67,000 00 

And this might, I think, be doubled after the first year, as there would, no 
doubt, soon be a demand altogether beyond the supply. 









J2 


Copy of calculation made by Major Graham and William Limrick^ of Browns^ 
ville^ for two months’ operations at the coal hank in Jackson county^ Illinois. 

2 boats built each week, (suppose each to cost $75,) and $5 for cable, 

in all 16 boats, at $80 _ _ _ _ - $1,280 OO 

Coal for 16 boats, 2,400 bushels each, cost on board the boats 2 cents 

per bushel 768 00 

6 hands and 1 pilot for two boats, $200 each; 16 boat loads, at New 

Orleans; cost of pilots and hands _ _ _ _ 1,600 00 

Provisions for 16 boats, at $25 each « - - - 400 00 

Suppose 16 boats insured $400 each, at 2^ per cent., $10 - - 160 00 

$4,208 00 

Suppose 800 barrels coal, sold in New Orleans at 62^ cents per bar¬ 
rel, would be $500 each, 16 boats would be - - - 8,000 00 


$3,792 00 

Suppose, again, 800 barrels sold in New Orleans, at 75 cents per bar¬ 
rel, would be $600 each; 16 boats would be - - - 9,000 00 

Profit for two months ------ $4,792 OO 

Again, suppose (which might be realized by having a yard in New 
Orleans, so as to obtain the highest price) 800 barrels at $1 per 
barrel; 16 boat loads w'ould be - - - - $12,800 00 


Profit for two months’ operations ----- $8,592 00 


REPORT ON THE MOUNT CARBON COAL MINES. 

Jackson County, Illinois, 

September S, 1840, 

Dear Sir : In pursuance of your request, I hand you an¬ 
nexed a report on the Mount Carbon Coal Mines, and I much 
regret that a severe attack of fever and ague, (from the effects 
of which I am now suffering,) at the period in the spring most 
favorable for mineral examination and survey, prevented me 
from pursuing and completing this examination in the minute 
way I intended. The ground in the woods is so thickly cov¬ 
ered with underbrush that, without a number of axemen to 
cut out the brush, no survey of boundary can be made; and, 
to have this done at the present season, will delay more time 
than you can allow for making this report. I will, therefore, 
confine myself to such matter as I am in possession of; but, at 
the same time, I must remark, that the value of the property 
and the extent of its minerals is very far from being fully as¬ 
certained, as but a small part of it has been operated on, and 
no examinations made below the level of the river on any part 
of it. 









15 


A charter, to form a company to work these mines for thirty 
years, and raise a capital of ^200,000, was granted by the Le¬ 
gislature of the State, under the title of the Mount Carbon Coal 
Company, 24th January, 1835, of which you have copies, and 
to which I refer for further particulars as to its provisions, &c. 
Such further powers as may be necessary can be readily ob¬ 
tained from the Legislature. 

I propose to divide this report into the following heads : 

1st. The extent of the land ; quality of the coal, and extent 
of it, as far as ascertained; and the uses to which it may be 
employed ; cost of mining and delivering into boats. 

2d. The mines that now supply the markets most conveni¬ 
ent for selling this coal, and the relative expenses of delivering 
it in such markets. 

3d. The different routes by which the coal can be delivered, 
and the comparative advantages of each. 

FirsL The quantity of land now owned by the company is 
about thirteen hundred acres, and it was supposed this includ¬ 
ed the whole of the lands containing coal that were desirable 
from their situation. I have ascertained that the coal extends 
further than was supposed, and am making arrangements to 
add about 200 acres more to the property, which will both 
square the boundary and add from 100 to 130 acres more coal 
land that adjoins to us on two sides, and is convenient to our 
wharves, railroads, &c. 

The coal mines which are worked by level are situated on 
the banks of the Big Muddy river; the coal opening is situated 
about twenty feet above low-water mark, and, at times, the 
river rises to within a few feet of the level of the floor of the 
drift. From the mouth of the mine, when the river is in this 
state, to the wharf at which the boats lie, does not exceed 150 
feet. The coal of the Mount Carbon Coal Company’s mines 
is contained in a series of rising grounds above the level of the 
river, on the south side, (the other side of the river is flat, low 
land,) intersected by small ravines, from ten to fifty yards wide, 
which afford convenient places for railroads and ventilation to 
the mines; and, as far as these rising grounds have sufficient 
elevation, they contain the coal. The roof and floor of the 


14 


mines are perfectly regular, and no appearance of fault or dis¬ 
location has yet been met with, and I believe none exists, nor 
any fire damp, &c. A large quantity has been mined this year, 
and some boat loads sent to New Orleans for steamboats. Cer¬ 
tificates of its quality, from the owners of the boats who used 
it, are daily expected. The remainder is now lying on the 
wharf, owing to the usual rise of the Mississippi not having 
yet taken place to back the water up to the wharf at the mines. 
The coal is from fi^e and a half to six feet in thickness, and 
will yield about 6,000 or 7,000 tons per acre. The coal of these 
mines is remarkably free from sulphur, slate, and other impu¬ 
rities, in proof of which the fire bars of the steam-engine at the 
mines have been in constant use for more than a year, and are 
little the worse for wear. It is preferred by the blacksmiths 
who have used it to any other they have ever tried, and the 
early French settlers used to come 40 or 50 miles for it to use 
in their forges, on account of its great purity, when they had 
plenty of other coal within ten miles of them; and it still main¬ 
tains its superiority over all other mines in the State yet dis¬ 
covered. Being situated in a part of the State the advantages 
of which were overlooked, these mines did not attract much 
notice until the internal improvement system of the State prom¬ 
ised to furnish the means of taking it to market. The coals 
of Illinois, with the single exception of the Big Muddy mines, 
are, as far as I am acquainted with them, very impure, con¬ 
taining much sulphur, slate, and earthy matter, and, with the 
exception of the Big Muddy coal, vrholly unfit for making iron. 
The same remark will apply to the Missouri coal. The drift 
which has been carried into the mines is driven nearly at right 
angles from the river, and is carried into them about 130 or 
140 yards. Its further progress was delayed till the railroad 
and mine-wagons were ready, as the distance got too long for 
wheeling, and the men were put to work in another place, to 
get out coal for sale. The coal mines in large blocks, and bears 
exposure to the weather very well; it also makes a capital coke, 
and the small particles can be coked in ovens, if required; but, 
if properly mined, no more small is produced than can be ad¬ 
vantageously used with the large coal in steamboats and steam- 


15 


engines. This coal makes a very hot fire, and very little smoke^ 
and but little cinder or ashes, and a remarkably pleasant fire 
in a grate, and kindles readily. The steamboats on the Mis¬ 
sissippi river are now using it, and certificates of its economy 
will be got from the boats as soon as I can spare time to go 
after them. Our present price to steamboats, at the mouth of 
Muddy, is sixteen cents a bushel, which leaves us nearly one- 
half for profit. The captain of the steamboat at New Orleans, 
who took 1,200 barrels of this coal for fuel on his voyage to 
Texas, promised to send us his opinion of it, and how the coal 
answered, but we have not yet received it—there has been 
hardly time. This coal is admirably adapted for use in iron¬ 
works and glass-houses—much more so than that from Wheel¬ 
ing or Pittsburg—and in puddling and heating furnaces, on ac¬ 
count of the total absence of sulphur and other impurities, 
which combine with the iron and occasion great waste in the 
furnace ; it is equally calculated for the operations of the blast 
furnace for the same reason. Some specimens of cokes have 
been made of admirable quality, and it is intended to make a 
quantity of cokes for iron founders, as soon as it can conveni¬ 
ently be done. Only one strata of coal was formerly known, 
though others were supposed to exist; but another vein of re¬ 
markably good Smith’s coal, rather more than a yard thick, 
was found last March, and about ten tons of it got out. As 
this lay farther from the river than the other coal, and the road 
to it was not made, operations in it were discontinued, but 
enough was done to show that it was accompanied by a vein 
of limestone about a foot thick, and also some ironstone, but 
the explorations were not carried on far enough to say if the 
ironstone was workable or not. This last coal, as it lies many 
feet above the other coal, does not extend over as large a sur¬ 
face, but it may probably cover from 100 to 200 acres. Enough 
of the other coal is known to exist, from admeasurement and 
examination, to supply a consumption of 1,000 tons a week 
for fifty years to come, and, as about a fourth part only of the 
company’s lands have yet been examined, there may be three 
times as much. The rocks which show themselves in the ra¬ 
vines are indications of coal under them. 


16 


It is proper to observe that the mines are now opened, and 
a capital wharf built on the bank of the river for loading the 
coal; and that a thousand tons of coal a week could be sup¬ 
plied, as soon as a sufficient number of hands could be put into 
the mines. No expensive outlay is required to put these mines 
into extensive operation, but every dollar now furnished to 
carry on the concern will bring an immediate return. In this 
respect, they will advantageously compare with all the coal 
concerns in the United States. The expenditure—to partially 
improve the channels now used for sending away the coal, and 
building a steamboat to run on Muddy—sufficient for any prob¬ 
able present demand, would not exceed ^10,000. 

I am not able to say what the whole extent of coal on the 
company’s lands will turn out, as I was unable to finish the 
examination on account of sickness, but I will state some of the 
data on which I form my opinion, and a reference to the map 
marked “No. 1,” will further elucidate the matter. In the 
spring of last year I devoted some time to an examination of 
this property, and actual admeasurement gave upwards of 200 
acres of coal land conveniently situated to the river. The 
time did not then allow of ascertaining the entire extent, but 
I have no doubt the opinion I then formed is within the mark, 
that the extent of the unmeasured coal was fully equal to that 
measured. The thickness of the coal is about 5i feet, and it 
lies very nearly horizontal, and drains towards the river. 
The strata is accompanied with some ironstone balls of excel¬ 
lent quality. I have now been residing on this property nearly 
one year, and I find the favorable opinion I formed on my first 
examination fully confirmed, and quite within the mark. The 
observations made as to the extent of coal lands are confined 
to the four parcels on the right hand side of the map. Con¬ 
tractors have offered to get this coal and deliver it into boats 
along side the wharf, when the railroad is laid and the mine- 
wagons prepared, at two cents a bushel. This may be con¬ 
sidered the maximum price. When the coal is obliged to be 
put down on the wharf, and again picked up to be loaded into 
boats, there will be that additional expense to add to it. This 
may be about half a cent a bushel; but only that part of the 


17 


coal deposited on the wharves will be subject to this expense. 
It may be as well to remark that three cents a bushel is now 
paid at the mines near St. Louis, and also at Hawesville, on 
the Ohio river, about 120 miles below Louisville, and that 
those locations are very sickly. 

Second. The towns on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are 
at present imperfectly supplied with coal from Pittsburg and 
Wheeling, but the prices are very irregular, and supply un¬ 
certain, owing to the dangerous and uncertain navigation of 
the river. The steamboats pay for Pittsburg coal, at Cincin¬ 
nati and Louisville, usually about 16 cents a bushel; and at 
times, when the river has long been in a low state, as much 
as 37i cents has been charged at Louisville. The navigation 
of the Ohio is very uncertain, and no insurance can be effect¬ 
ed on coal boats to New Orleans. I am told the Pittsburg 
traders consider they do well if they get six boats out of nine 
safe to New Orleans; and, in the winter time, this description 
of coals frequently brings $2 50 a barrel at that city, and as 
much at Vicksburg and Natchez. The mines of the Mount 
Carbon Coal Company are nearly one thousand miles nearer 
those markets, and therefore are not liable to the detentions 
and dangers of the navigation of the Ohio, in which the losses 
principally take place; and, as they are more to the South by 
many hundred miles, the boats from Mount Carbon can get 
to the towns on the lower Mississippi more than a month 
earlier than those from Pittsburg and Wheeling. This is a 
very important advantage, as the first coal that gets to market 
always commands a much higher price than at subsequent 
periods; and to be nearly a thousand miles nearer to market, 
and at a location free from ice from one to two months earlier, 
is an advantage that must be apparent to every one. «There 
are some deposites of coal about ten to fifteen miles further up 
Muddy river, but they lie back; and from the very superfi¬ 
cial covering on the coal, and consequent want of pressure on 
it, the coal is of inferior quality ; and, independent of that, 
they cannot compete on account of the greater expense and 
difficulty of getting to market. In short, there are no mines 
yet discovered that can compete in the river market with 
2 


18 


these. The mines near St. Louis are more distant, and situ¬ 
ated in an unhealthy location, and the coal got at a greater 
expense than at Mount Carbon. The blacksmiths at St, 
Louis prefer giving 50 cents a bushel for the Pittsburg coal 
to buying that got within a few miles of them at 12§ cents, on 
account of the great quantity of slate and sulphur contained 
in it. It will be apparent from the above statements that nn 
mines hitherto discovered can compete with Mount Carbon. 
The best situated to do so are the mines at Hawesville and 
Bon Harbour, about 120 miles below Louisville; but the 
quality of the coal is not good—giving out but little heat, and 
making much white ashes and slate. 

Third. The present way of getting the Mount Carbon coal 
to market is by the Big Muddy river, in flat-boats. This river 
may be considered navigable from the mines four or five 
months in the year, for flat-boats containing 3,000 to 5,000 
bushels; and part of the time a middling sized steamboat could 
come to the wharf. By making a railroad, for which the 
ground is very favorable, and which can be done for about 
^5,000 or ^6,000, the time for shipping coals would be nearly 
doubled. There is a shoal about a mile below the mines over 
which boats cannot pass at low water, and the railroad pro¬ 
posed would extend to the deep water below the shoal. The 
Legislature of the State has made an appropriation of ^20,000 
to improve the navigation of this river, and it is expected that 
this sum will be sufiicient for that purpose up to the mines; or 
a railroad could be made to the Mississippi river, not exceed¬ 
ing sixteen miles in length. The Central railroad, to be made 
by the State, and end at the city of Cairo, at the junction of 
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, as at present located, comes 
within a few miles of the mines; and a resurvey is likely 
to be made, which, it is expected, will bring it close to the 
mines. This will be the most advantageous route for taking 
the coal to market, as by it access can be had to the river and 
New Orleans nearly every day in the year. It is expected 
that, at the next meeting of the Legislature, means will be 
found to carry on this railroad. The distance from the mines 
to Cairo will be about sixty miles, and a large part of the 


19 


grading on the first thirty is already done. At this point 
twenty steamboats a day frequently pass, and a large con¬ 
sumption of coal at that place is anticipated, by the foundries 
and factories there to be established. The steamboats are 
daily using more coal; and if they could get supplied at con¬ 
venient places, there is hardly a limit to the quantity that 
would be sold to them. Some of the larger boats use 60 to 70 
cords of wood a day, costing from ^2 to $5 a cord, notwith¬ 
standing its greater Aveight and the larger quantity of space 
occupied by it. Noav, one ton or thirty bushels of this coal is 
more than equal to three cords of such wood as the boats get 
on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and less than one third the 
weight: from this statement the advantages of using coal in 
steamboats must be apparent. I have observed, in my voy¬ 
ages on the river, when we had no coal to mix with the wood 
the speed of the boat lessened from one to two miles an hour. 
There are more than 400 boats on the Mississippi and Ohio 
rivers. The expense of delivering coal at the mouth of Mud¬ 
dy, and as far down the river as Cairo, by the mode at present 
used in flat-boats, including the digging of the coal, will not 
exceed from seven to nine cents a bushel. In this expense is 
included a loss on the boat of nearly one-half its cost, as they 
can rarely be brought back to the mines, and have to be sold 
for what they will bring; but when we have a small steam¬ 
boat and suitable tow-boats, a considerable saving will be made 
on this expense as well as much time. For the expense of de¬ 
livering coals at New Orleans, I refer you to the printed state¬ 
ment in your possession ; and I have also to state that we have 
made one trial to New Orleans, at a most unfavorable pe¬ 
riod, with two boat loads of coal, and it proved that a profit¬ 
able trade could be carried on to that place at all times we 
could get out of Muddy. You shall have the particulars of this 
voyage with the certificates from the steamboats. I have no 
doubt that, as soon as the steamboats are acquainted with this 
coal, all we can deliver will be readily sold to them; but they 
can hardly at present believe there is any good coal except 
from Pittsburg. We have now a boat load on sale at Cairo 
to steamboats, and I hope soon to send you an account of its 


20 


disposal. Wood costs, near New Orleans, ^4 to $5 a cord; 
coal, at 25 cents a bushel, will save them about one-half, as 
well as much time lost in wooding. It may be stated that this 
coal can be used for any purpose to which bituminous coal can 
be applied, and for making iron I know none so suitable. I 
have no hesitation in saying that iron can be made in this 
nighborhood cheaper than at Pittsburg, on account of the 
greater facility of getting iron ore, and the absence of sulphur 
in the coal. This will be the subject of a future report, after 
the examination of the iron deposites I mentioned. It must be 
observed a large portion of the iron made at Pittsburg passes 
by the mouth of Muddy for sale at St. Louis, with a charge 
for freight on it of three-quarters of a cent a pound. This is a 
pretty good tariff in our favor. 

Much more might be added to this report, but it is already 
sufficiently long. I shall be glad to elucidate any parts that 
may seem to require it, and to give any further information 
that may be useful. I will merely add that, from the state of 
preparation the concern is in, if a moderate capital is supplied, 
a dividend could be made by next June, or perhaps earlier. 
I have seen most of the coal concerns in the United States, 
and I know of none that can make so good or quick a return 
for the capital employed. We have the market of steamboats 
almost at our door, and, with a railroad to below the Fish-trap 
Shoals, even with the river Muddy in its present state, we can 
keep a constant supply of coal for steamboats at a station near 
the mouth of Muddy and at Cairo ; but it will be at a greater 
expense than when the navigation of the river is improved, 
but will still give a greater return of profit than any business 
now carried on in the United States: and I will only add that 
the mines can supply coal as fast as any means can be found 
to take it away. 

There is a tract of 80 acres of land, not shown on the map, 
situated on the river below Brownsville, on which a hole was 
bored for salt-water, and salt-works erected some years ago. 
The boring was not carried down deep enough to reach the 
main salt-spring, but some salt-water was obtained. There is 
a saline belonging to the State between this land and the coal 


21 


mines; and I have no doubt but the rock in the river at the 
coal mines and that in the river near the salt well are the same, 
and that salt-water may be procured at the coal bank, to any 
extent that may be wanted, by boring to a very moderate 
depth. There is a salt-lick, to which the deer and cattle re¬ 
sort, within a few hundred yards of the coal bank, and other 
indications on the rock near it. The steam-engine attached to 
the mines will afford facilities for boring the holes, which can 
be done at a small expense, and salt can be made, boiled with 
coal, for about 12^ cents a bushel. It may be mentioned that 
the salt region in Ohio is covered with the coal formation; and, 
as the coal formation either covers the salt-spring at Equality 
or comes very near it, there can be no doubt but the salt form¬ 
ation exists under the coal deposite here. The present selling 
price of salt is a dollar a bushel. The foreign salt cannot be 
brought here as cheap, and the salt made at the Brownsville 
salt-works has always maintained a high character for curing 
meat, and for that purpose there is a considerable demand. 
The erection of a salt-work would consume the small coal and 
that which is shovelled off the flow of the mine, and render the 
remainder in larger pieces, which is much liked at New Or¬ 
leans, particularly for using in grates and parlor fires. The 
salt formation at Kenawha, in Virginia, is also covered with 
the coal formation, and coal is there used for boiling the salt. 
I shall be happy to furnish any elucidation to this report that 
may be wished, or any further information necessary. 

I am, dear sir, yours, respectfully, 

WILLIAM ASTON. 

W^iLLiAM A. Bradley, Esq., 

President of the Mount Carbon Coal Company. 


22 


CHARTER OF THE MOUNT CARBON COAL COMPANY. 


An act to incorporate the Mount Carhon Coal Company. 

Sectiox. 1. Be it enacted hy the people of the State of Illinois y represented in 
the General Assemblyy That Hal! Neilson and his associates, successors, and as¬ 
signs, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body corporate and politic, by the 
name and style of the “ Mount Carbon Coal Company,” for the more convenient 
ownership and mining of coal and metals, and minerals contiguous thereto, in the 
county of Jackson, and the transaction of the usual business of companies engaged 
in the mining, transporting, and selling of coal, and the other products of coal 
mines; and the said corporation, by the said name, is declared and hereby made 
capable in law to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, to have a common 
seal, and the same to alter and renew at pleasure, to make rules and by-laws for 
the regulation and management of said corporation, consistent with the laws of 
this State, and, generally, to do and execute whatever by law shall appertain to 
such bodies politic : Providedy That nothing herein contained shall be considered 
as conferring on the said corporation any banking privileges; but they shall be ex¬ 
clusively confined to the operations directly necessary for carrying on the mining, 
coaling, and transportation of coal, and the construction of the necessary buildings, 
wharves, and boats; and each and every stockholder shall be, in his individual ca¬ 
pacity, liable for the debts and performance of all contracts entered into by said 
corporation, to the amount of the balance unpaid on the stock of such stockholders. 

Sec. 2. The said corporation shall have the right to hold, possess, and enjoy, 
not exceeding two thousand acres of land ; and the whole amount of the capital 
stock shall not exceed in value the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and shall 
be divided into four thousand shares ; which capital shall be employed in purchasing 
and holding the lands aforesaid, and in constructing and employing buildings, 
vessels, boats, arks, and such other improvements and machinery necessary or 
useful, for the mining, coaling, and transporting of coal. Every member of said 
company shall have a certificate, under the seal of the corporation, and made and 
attested in such manner and form as the by-laws shall direct, certifying his right 
in the share or shares owned by him; and the stock of said company shall, in the 
nature of personal property, be assignable and transferable, according to such 
rules as the board of directors shall establish ; and no stockholder indebted to the 
company shall be permitted to make a transfer or receive a dividend until such debt 
is discharged, or security given for the same, to the satisfaction of the directors. 

Sec. 3. For the managing of the affairs of the said corporation, there shall be 
chosen from the stockholders five directors, who shall hold their offices for one 
year, or until superseded by others. Thirty days’ previous notice, by publication 
once a week for one month in the newspaper in or nearest to the town of Browns¬ 
ville, shall be given of the first election of directors, and there shall be annually 
thereafter a like election at the town of Brownsville. In all such elections for di¬ 
rectors, each proprietor of shares shall be entitled to one vote for every five shares 
held by him, which vote may be given by himself or proxy duly authorized under 
seal, and a majority of the shares shall be necessary to a choice of directors, or the 



23 


Iransaction of any business which may concern the company, and come before the 
stockholders. 

Sec. 4. A majority of the directors shall form a quorum to transact business, 
and they shall meet within thirty days from the time they shall have been chosen at 
Brownsville, and choose by ballot one of their number for president, who shall 
serve for one year, or until superseded by a new election ; and there shall be, an¬ 
nually, after the said election, a like election in Brownsville, by the directors for 
the time being, of a president for said corporation. The said directors shall also 
have power to choose and appoint such other officers and agents, to conduct and 
prosecute the business of the said corporation, as they shall deem necessary and 
proper; and they shall also have the power, for good cause, to be spread at large, 
together with the proof in support thereof, upon their minutes, to remove the 
president of said company from office. The said directors shall cause to be kept, 
duly recorded in books to be provided and kept for the purpose, minutes of all their 
proceedings, and regular accounts of their transactions, as also minutes of the pro¬ 
ceedings of the stockholders at each of their meetings ; which books may at any 
time be inspected by any of the stockholders. The said directors shall have power 
to supply any vacancy which may occur in the office of president, or in their own 
body, and the president or directors thus appointed shall hold his office until the 
next succeeding annual election for such officers. 

Sec. 5. The directors may, from time to time, at any meeting, assess and require 
payment of such sum of money, not exceeding twenty per cent, upon each share of 
stock, as shall be judged necessary for the purposes of the corporation, to be paid 
at Brownsville, to such person as the said directors may designate and authorize to 
receive the same ; and if, after publication of notice, once a week for two months, 
in the newspaper at or nearest to Brownsville, of the time of payment, and of the 
person appointed to receive the same, of any proportion or instalment of said capi¬ 
tal stock, any stockholder shall fail to pay his instalment at the time specified in 
said notice, the amount paid by such delinquent stockholder previously shall be 
forfeited to the company, and his stock may be sold to any person, for such price 
as may be agreed upon between the said company and the purchaser. 

Sec. 6 . Dividends of the nett profits of the said company shall be made at such 
times as shall be determined by the stockholders in general meeting, which divi¬ 
dends shall be paid to the persons entitled to the same, on demand made ten days 
after making and declaring the said dividends, and their amount shall be publish¬ 
ed for three successive weeks, in the same manner as other notices are hereinbe¬ 
fore directed to be published. Whenever said dividends shall exceed twelve and a 
half per cent, per annum, the said company shall pay a tax in the county treasury 
of Jackson county, to be assessed by the county commissioners’ court of that 
county. 

8ec. 7. The stock of said company shall be deemed personal estate, and pass as 
such to the representatives of each stockholder: Provided, That the real estate 
which may be held by said corporation shall be sold and conveyed, whenever they 
may deem proper so to dispose of it, according to the forms and in the manner pre¬ 
scribed by law, the president of said company making the acknowledgment re¬ 
quired by law, for and on behalf of the company. 


24 


Sec. 8. Service of process on the president of said company shall be deemed 
and taken as sufficient service on the corporation, in any suit which may be insti¬ 
tuted against it; and for any violation of the provisions of this act, the said cor¬ 
poration shall beheld to answer by sdrt fdcias in the Jackson county circuit court; 
and if, upon the trial thereof, it shall appear that such violations have been com¬ 
mitted, and it shall be so found, the said court may and shall give judgment revok¬ 
ing this charter. Any such proceedings by scire facias^ for such violations, shall 
be instituted and prosecuted, in the name of the people of the State of Illinois, 
against the said corporation. 

Sec. 9. This act to take effect from its passage, and to continue in force thirty 
years thereafter : Provided^ The said Hall INeilson and Thomas Neilson, their as¬ 
signs, successors, and associates, under “ An act to incorporate the Illinois Manu¬ 
facturing, Mining, and Exporting Company,” approved January 28, 1833, file in 
the office of the Secretary of State a written relinquishment, under seal, of their 
privileges granted by said act, a certificate whereof shall be issued by said Secretary 
to the corporation hereby created, without which this act shall not take effect. The 
said relinquishment shall be so filed on or before the first day of August next. 

JAMES SEMPLE, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

A. M. JENKINS, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved, January 24, 1835. 

JOSEPH DUNCAN. 



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